Separating and counting machine



y 1962 A. E. HUCKINS SEPARATING AND COUNTING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 21, 1958 INVENTOR.

May 1, 1962 A. E. HUCKINS SEPARATING AND COUNTING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov 21 1958 INVENTOR. 7% 15. 1%062/2/5. BY f u/WW United rates i atent @fice 3,032,162 Patented May 1, 1962 3,032,162 SEPARATIIJG AND CGUNTING MAQIHNE Alvin E. Huclrins, 1422 Cadiz, Coral Gables, Fla. Filed Nov. 21, 1958, Ser. No. 775,420 1 Claim. (Cl. 194--9) My invention relates to new and useful improvements in structural refinements in machines for separating, counting and packaging units or any combination of such operations and is directed more particularly to the provision of a unit receiving hopper for carrying a supply of a mixture of the units and means therewithin for eliminating any bridging of those units which may stop or slow down their flow or delivery or discharge from the hopper in combination with a guide means by which the units roll, slip or slide in seriatim from the hopper in any regular or irregular pattern and are guided against a slotted trackway system which functions to separate or sort the units, according to the size and/or thickness and/or value thereof, into sub-hoppers and from these past electrical switches which operate counting mechanisms which counting mechanisms operate gear mechanisms and stops which function according to the count desired in each package.

The invention resides in the particular arrangement, construction and relationship of the various elements of the separator/counter/packaging device, as exemplified in the detailed disclosure hereinafter set forth wherein the following objects will be apparent.

One of the primary purposes of my invention is to provide advantageous structural and operational features in devices of the class to which reference has been made, which improvements simplify the structure as such, and provide important distinct advantages in strength, durability, efliciency, ease of operation, and the like.

It is one broad concept hereof to provide a new and novel apparatus for sorting units, such as coins of different denominations, which is operated by gravity so as to eliminate moving parts, which apparatus includes a hopper from which the units are discharged or delivered into a trough or slide having a generally V-shaped trackway. The trackway has slots of progressively increasing dimensions adapted to receive units of various sizes, such as coins of various denominations for the purposes of sorting the units according to size or the coins according to denomination as the case may be, of counting the numbers of each of the groups of units or coins so sorted, and of packaging them according to denomination.

Another primary object hereof is to provide a device having the following inherent meritorious characteristics: first, the securement of a higher degree of accuracy and greater degree of variety in the manner of Work performed therewith than has heretofore been possible with prior sorting devices known in the art; second, the attainment of an improved and more efiicient apparatus of more dependable operation than sorting devices heretofore known; third, the attainment of a more economical and higher speed of construction and assembly of the device due to its simplification of design and its unique composition of coacting parts; fourth, the attainment of a flexibility or a capability of adjustment by which a large variety of work can be produced by means of the same device; fifth, the achievement of a greater ease in repairs than has been possible in related devices heretofore known; sixth, the provision of a construction which may be readily installed with respect to the various purposes for which it is intended, and seventh, the provision of such other improvements in and relating to supporting and counting and packaging systems of the type above referred to as are hereinafter described and claimed.

'It is still another object to provide a construction of the above described character in which the number of operating parts is greatly reduced and which is simple and compact, in accordance with the demands and desires of manufacturers and purchasers alike, and which is not only distinctive in its appearance and practical in its value but also reliable in its operation and efficient in its use. The device is constructed of relatively simple parts which are adapted to be readily assembled and which when once assembled are positively and securely retained in operative relationship and cannot be readily separated from each other, either accidentally or otherwise.

The existing practises heretofore known and used in the trade, principally by banks and the like, involve the employement of a motor driven centrifugal disc which serves to throw the units or coins against an actuator with sufiicient force as to operate a counter, the units or coins being fed to the machine in a separated condition, normally achieved manually or by screens or the like.

Accordingly, I have devised a novel means whereby such systems are outmoded and the obvious objections thereto are overcome. My device is gravity operated so as to obviate the need for a supporting power means, all to the end that the structure hereof is brought reasonably within the economic means of banks, churches, municipalities and the like and makes possible the more easy checking and counting and packaging of receipts and the like by the operating personnel.

The invention accordingly comprises a combination of coacting components to constitute a separator/counter/ packaging device.

It will be helpful to an understanding of my invention to first briefly consider some of the more important features and aspects thereof, so that same may be kept in mind during the subsequent reading of the detailed description of the practical embodiment of my improvernents and of the illustration thereof in the annexed drawings. Accordingly, it is first to be noted that my invention may be embodied in any device serving to separate, count and package units but it particularly envisions a preferred embodiment consisting of a coin sorting machine useful in banks, churches, toll-road houses and the like where large quantities of coins are received necessitating rapid and easy separating and counting and packaging.

The mixed units are initially delivered to a hopper as by dumping thereinto. Said hopper is provided with roller means for preventing or breaking up any so-called bridging of the units, which may serve to stop the discharge of units from the hopper, by means of a Wringer action having a capacity for laying the units down into a desired predetermined delivery position preparatory to discharge therefrom.

Upon discharge from the hopper, the units are caused to roll or slip or slide in seriatim down or across a channel or route or trackway in any regular or irregular pattern. The units are guided therealong and past or through one or more slots or holes or spaces in the trackway so as to cause the units to be separated in a manner as desired and in accordance with the size or thickness of the parts.

Similar or identical units drop through the same slot or hole or space into a sub-hopper disposed thereunder and having means therein for routing the units to an electric switch which operates an electric counter and a gear adjacent thereto. A pin means projecting outwardly from the gear functions to operate a stop which, in combination with the gear, has the capacity to ofier any desired package count. Alternatively, the stop can be so actuated so as to be rendered non-operative when gross or bulk counting or balances are desired.

Other objects and advantages will be in part obvious or in part pointed out hereinafter. All will become apparent as the detailed description proceeds below as they reside in features of novelty and details of construction and operation to be pointed out more fully hereinafter and with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming part hereof.

To the accomplishment of these ends, the invention intended to be protected by Letters Patent will be understood to comprise the features set forth in this description and annexed drawings illustrating in detail a certain physical embodiment of the invention and showing par combined and arranged in accordance with one mode which I have devised for the practical application of the princ p e e e It will be understood however that this is only indicative of but one of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed and in which the component parts may be combined and arranged. Changes, modifications and alterations are contemplated and may be made and resort had to substitutions within the spirit and scope of the claims hereof. No limitations therefore are to be implied from the following specific description.

In the drawings forming part of this specification and wherein like characteristics of reference or numerals are employed to designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views:

. FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the structure of my invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a-sectional view on the line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

gFIG. 5 is a-sectional View on the line 55 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6.6 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view on the line 7--7 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view on the line 88 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the wrapper holder of th n nt n;

FIG. lQis an end elevational view of the counting mechanism of the device of the invention; and

FIG. 11 is a transverse sectional view showing the bracketand guide for the stop rod of the invention.

In the following description and claim, various details will be identified by specific names for convenience. These names however are intended to be as generic in their application as the art will permit.

Referring now to the drawing forming a part of this specification more in detail, and referring more particularly to the preferred form of my invention selected for illustrative purposes, I have shown a detailed separato-r/ counter/packaging assemblage in order that the general relation and utility of the construction may be better understood.

The numeral generally indicates a main or primary unit receiving hopper comprising a container which may be constructed of any desired material such as metal, plastic, wood or the like. The hopper is preferably generally rectangular in shape and is inclined at an angle from the horizontal and relative to the base or support or floor (not shown) above which it is disposed by means now to be described, all to the end that units received therewithin may be gravity fed for purposes of delivery therefrom to a distributing system as will be observed.

The main or primary hopper includes a pair of vertically disposed side walls 12 and t4 fixed to the upper ends of a pair of vertically disposed posts or supporting legs '16 and 18 respectively at an angle relative thereto, as shown.

The side walls 12 and 14 are provided with lower inwardly-extending singularly-disposed portions 22 and 24- respectively which converge toward each other to form an inclined V-shaped bottom wall of the main hopper.

- Front and rear end walls 26 and 28 respectively of the main hopper are each secured to adjacent ends of the side Walls 12 and 14 in any conventional manner.

The above defined walls constitute the primary hopper which as will be appreciated, is open at its upper or top side so as to facilitate easy and ready access thereto.

Extending inwardly from the vertical wall 14, an anguiarly disposed plate member 3% is provided and has an inner free edge terminating adjacent and spaced above the lower wall portion 22 of the side wall 12 thereby to provide an elongated space therebetween extending from the front to the rear wall, in which space a roller 32 is disposed, same being suitably journalled in said front and rear walls. The roller 32 is of such diameter and is so positioned intermediate the plate member 30 and the lower wall portion 22 of the side wall 12 as to admit therepast, in seriatim, the units, such as coins, being separated. The units normally fall over the roll and fall again-st the surface of the wall portion 22 in a face-to-face manner. In the case of bridging, the roll may be manually rotated, as will be observed, to break up the same. The units lie against the surface of the wall portion 22 in a face-toface manner and are slid or rolled or otherwise urged past the roller to the juncture of the lower wall portions 22 and 24 and simultaneously to slide downwardly along the juncture toward the rear wall 28.

A manually operable hand wheel 34 is fixed to an outer free end of the roller 32, adjacent the outside face of the front end wall 26. Said roller can be rotated, when and as desired, to break up the units within the hopper. That is, the mass of units in the hopper may be broken up and the individual units may be moved over the roller and, by the rolling action thereof, may be moved to lie in a facc-to-face manner against the lower wall portion 22. The continued rolling action urges the units therepast in a sliding movement downwardly adjacent the lower wall portion 22 and toward the rear wall 28 as aforesaid.

The rear wall 28 is appropriately slotted at 29 at the juncture of the lower wall portions 22 and 24 to which slot the units may be delivered and through which slot the units may be discharged in seriatim from within the'hopper to an elongated inclined slide or trough generally indicated by the numeral 38. Said slide or trough is generally V-shaped in cross section, as shown in H6. 5, and is formed by a pair of wall members 40 and 42.

The uppermost ends of the wall members 40 and 42 are fixed to the outer face of the rear wall 28 by any conven tional means, such as weldrnents, so that units discharged from the main hopper slide downwardly along the V- shaped trackway of the slide or trough.

it will be understood that one, two, or any number of such trackways, with appropriate sub-assemblages appended thereto, may be employed. It is also to be understood that the slide or trough may, if preferred, be integral with the main hopper assembly.

As aforesaid, the slide or trough is positioned at an angle from the horizontal and preferably in alignment with the main axis of the main hopper so that units received therein from the main hopper will slide downwardly therealong under the influence of gravity.

The wall 42 of the slide or trough 38 is provided with a plurality of spaced-apart elongated apertures of progressively increasing dimensions. Same are indicated by the numerals 44, 45, 46, 47 and 48 and are disposed in the wall 42 immediately adjacent the apex of the trackway.

Said slot 44 will have dimensions such that a unit of specific dimensions, such as a ten cent piece of coinage for example, will fall therethrough while the larger coins will continue therepast and slide further downwardly along the slide pathway.

Slot 45 will have dimensions to accommodate a unit of other specific dimensions, such as a one cent piece of coinage for example, while slots 46, 4'7 and 48 will be adapted to receive other units of still other specific dimensions such as five cent pieces, quarters and half dollars respectively for example, as they roll down the trackway.

An extension of the wall member 40 of the trough extends below and beyond its juncture with the wall 42 and forms a vertically disposed wall portion 50, which wall portion 56, in combination with a vertically disposed wall member 52, depending downwardly from the upper edge of the wall member 42 to which it is secured, forms a vertical chute 54 therebetween.

Said 54 chute is divided by a plurality of transverse wall members or separators 56 which extend between and are fixed to the inner faces of the opposed walls 50 and 52 to form a plurality of sub-hoppers, each said sub-hopper being disposed directly below one of the slots 44, 45, 46, $7 and 48 for coacting relationship therewith.

The lowermost ends of the pair of wall members 40 and 42 of the trough 38 are fixed to a vertically extending end wall 69 supported upwardly from the said supporting member or base or floor by a vertically extending post or leg 62.

The sub-hoppers are designated by numerals as follows: 64 represents what may be referred to as the dime subhopper, 65 what may be referred to as the penny subhopper, 65 the nickel sub-hopper, 67 the quarter subhopper, and 68 the half-dollar sub-hopper.

All of the sub-hoppers are similarly designed and constructed so that, for purposes of illustration, only one thereof will be hereinafter described in detail.

The sub-hopper is provided with a generally horizontally disposed spacer 70 which extends between the spaced walls 50 and 52. The spacer 7ft abuts one of the separators 56 defining said sub-hopper and is directed toward, but spaced from, the next or adjacent separator defining said sub-hopper. The upper surface or wall of the spacer 70 serves as a sub'hopper floor and is slightly inclined from the horizontal toward a vertically disposed drop or lot to be defined.

A vertically disposed leg 72 is fixed to the under side of a table plate 90 (subsequently to be referred to) adjacent the lower portion of the sub-hopper and supports the sub-hopper and its related components upwardly from the said supporting member or base or floor.

A vertically disposed middle plate 74 is fixed to the leg 72, to the bottom of the sub-hopper and to the table plate 90, and serves as the base for the attachment of various components subsequently to be described.

A front plate 75 is fixed to the front of the sub-hopper.

A vertically disposed spacer 76 is disposed between the spaced members 50 and 52 and has an upper end terminating adjacent the outer free end of the spacer 70 in a plane with the upper surface thereof.

A vertically disposed drop or slot communicates at its upper end with the sub-hopper. Said drop is defined by the lower portions of the spaced walls 50 and 52 at opposite sides and by the spacer 76 and separator 56 at opposite ends.

The units or coins within the sub-hopper roll or slide along the upper surface of the spacer 70 and over the upper end of the spacer 76 and thence into the drop or slot.

Below the lower discharge end of the drop or slot, as best shown in FIG. 7, a downwardly and outwardly extending wall 89 is provided, which wall curves transversely relative to the longitudinal length of the trough or slot of the sub-hopper and may, if desired, be a lowermost continuation of the wall 50.

Said wall 85 terminates at its lowermost outer and for ward edge adjacent the upper end of a funnel-like device 82 disposed, on a vertical axis, between and fixed to a pair of spaced downwardly-depending wall members 83. Said members 83 are connected together at their lower free ends, adjacent the funnel-like device 82, by a transversely extending spacer 83' which is also fixed to the adjacent leg 72 as shown. The wall member 83 on the left side, as viewed in FIG. 1, may be an extension of the middle plate 74.

The unit, such as the coin, on leaving the drop or slot,

6 is guided by the curved wall into the funnel-like device 32.

A wrapper holder 84 of conventional configuration, shown in FIG. 9, is provided with an upper flange 86 and may be supported, in opened position, by a pair of spaced abutments 88 which extend inwardly from each of the member 83 whereby units passing through the funnel are dropped into the wrapper holder for packaging purposes.

A specific function of the device is to count and package any given number of units or items and to stop the how of same when a desired number or count thereof has been attained for the packaging purpose.

Generally speaking, this is accomplished by the closing of an electric circuit upon a contact made upon the falling of each unit within the drop or slot. The circuit operates a counter and a magnet of a magnetic counter of any conventional design.

A table plate 90 is attached to the middle plate 74, and also to the bottom portions of the Walls forming the sub-hopper.

An angularly-disposed counter-table 92 is secured to the table plate 90 and to the plate 52.

A magnetic counter 94 is secured to the counter-table 92 and is adapted, each time it is energized or pulsed, to indicate a count, which is registered in a counter 95.

A shaft 96 extending outwardly from the counter is rotated each time the counter 94 is energized and carries a pinion 98 which is advanced one pitch or one tooth each time the counter is energized.

An idle gear 100 is rotatable on a shaft 102 journalled in the middle plate 74 and is in mesh with the pinion. Said gear 100 carries a stud 104, the function of which will be presently described.

A normally-open switch device 106 is secured to the middle plate 74 and is preferably of the micro type. Said switch device is adapted to be connected in a circuit including a source of energy and the magnetic counter 94. The switch device is provided with an elongated actuator or feeler 108 and has an outer free extremity extending through aligned vertical slots 110 in the walls 50 and 52 and through the drop or slot between the walls 50 and 52.

As the unit or coin rolls or slides off of the floor of the spacer 70 and into the drop or slot, said unit or coin acts on the actuator so as to swing same downwardly in a signalling are or stroke. At the completion of said stroke, it passes ed the end of the actuator which has cleared the slot 110 in the wall 52 and then drops between the walls 50 and 52 so as to move past the actuator and onto the curved guide wall 80. As the unit or coin moves freely therepast, the actuator snaps back to its starting position.

In the downward movement of the actuator, the switch is closed and thereby the magnetic counter is energized or pulsed so that the pinion is rotated through a predetermined angle of, for convenience, one tooth or pitch.

The actual make and break of the circuit may be about midway of the signalling are through which the feeler moves.

It may be desired to interrupt the passage of units downwardly at the termination of a predetermined count thereof. For this purpose, a stop rod 112, is horizontally slidable in a member 114, and in the front plate 75. The movement of the pinion 98 moves the idle gear 100 one pitch, which moves the stop rod 112 forwardly a corresponding distance by means of the stud or pin 104 in the side of the idle gear. When a predetermined count is reached, the stud 104 abuts a pin 11:6 of the stop rod 112 to move the stop rod 112 so that its inner end is disposed in the drop or slot and there to function as a stop by the blockage of any further flow of units or coins' The movement of the pinion 93 moves the idle gear 100 one pitch as each unit or coin drops from the subhopper into the drop and past the actuator or feeler 103 as aforesaid. As any predetermined count is approached, the stud 104 in the idle gear 1% abuts the pin 116 of the stop rod 112 to advance the end of the stop rod to the point designated as A in FIG. 10. Said pins are held in a positive contact position by the stop 118 and spring wire snap 120, as shown in FIG. 11.

The next unit or coin completing the predetermined count for the package or container advances the end of the stop rod 112 to the point designated as B in FIG. 10 wherefor the stop rod functions as a stop across the drop or slot so as to block any further flow of units or coins therethrough.

The magnetic counter may be adjusted so that the stud 104 contacts the pin 115 so as to actuate the stop rod 112 for any predetermined count of units.

At this stoppage point, the package or wrapper may be removed and replaced with another.

To start the operation over again, stop rod 112 is advanced manually so that its end is at any point, such as the point designated as C in FIG. 10, throwing the members 104 and 116 out of contact and turning the rod a one-quarter turn clockwise pulled back and turning back up snapped into position shown in FIG. 11.

It is to be appreciated that the only movement of the stop rod is for the very few pitch movements of gear 100 when stud 104 is in contact or is about to come in contact with member 116. During the balance of the revolution of the gear, the stop rod lies dormant.

If merely a count is desired as for balance purposes, deposit purposes, inventory purposes or the like, the rod 112 may be allowed to remain down in the clockwise turn as above and a continuous count may thereby be obtained.

The stop rod 112 is manually movable to its nonstopping position, shown in FIG. 10, against the stop 118 secured to the front plate 75 and guided against said bracket by the spring 120. See FIG. 11.

The structure contemplates particular use as a unit separating/ counting/ packaging machine for use in banks, churches, toll houses, and the like where large quantities of units, such as coins are used for counting and/or packaging purposes.

Although my invention has been described and illustrated herein with particular reference to coins, it should be appreciated that its utility and application extend beyond the particular type of unit illustrated and its broad scope and concept comprehend the useful and novel features set forth when combined with any type of unit and thus, with respect to the scope of the invention, the foregoing material is to be considered as illustrative rather than limiting.

It is to be further understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, Although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

Although in the drawing and in the above description I have shown an optional but preferred embodiment of my invention and various alternatives and modifications thereof, it is understood that these are not intended to be exhaustive of nor limiting of nor departing from the spirit of the invention. On the contrary, they are given with a view to illustrating and explaining the principles of the invention and their embodiment for practical use, in order that others skilled in the art may be enabled to adapt and modify them in numerous embodiments and modifications, each as may be best adapted to the conditions of any particular use.

That is to say, the objects of the invention may be attained by use of constructions different in certain respects from that disclosed such as in size, form, proportions and the like, all without departing from the underlying principles of the invention and it is understood that such will readily occur to those skilled in the art. The

invention is susceptible of same, without departing from the real spirit or scope hereof. Such adaptation and/or changes should be and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning range of equivalence of the claims appended below.

Without further analysis, the foregoing is intended to so fully reveal the gist of my invention and the construction and operation of the device thereof that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features which, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention. Therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended Within the meaning range of equivalence of the claim below. The substitution of equivalents and other modifications are contemplated, as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, since the invention is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the real spirit of the invention and since they will readily occur to those skilled in the art. In other words, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described as the objects of the invention may be attained by the use of constructions different in certain respects from that disclosed without departing from the underlying principles of the invention.

The following claim is desired to include within the scope of the invention all such suitable variations, modification and equivalent by which substantially the results of the invention may be obtained through the use of substantially the same or equivalent devices or means.

Accordingly, limitation of this invention should be made only as determined by a proper interpretation of the terms used in the subjoined claim.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and novel and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

In a gravity-operated apparatu for the classifying and counting and wrapping of a mixture of units of varying diameters to effect a separation of the units of the mixture into a plurality of submixtures according to diameter preparatory to counting and wrapping including a unit-receiving hopper for storing the mixture of the units and including a pair of converging bottom walls and a plate member spaced thereabove with a roller disposed therebetween as one anti-bridge means for admitting the units to a delivery position in the hopper adjacent the bottom walls and a downwardly-extending V-shaped trackway communicating with and leading from the hopper for receiving in seriatim the units discharged from the hopper in sliding distributive engagement under force of gravity together with a plurality of classifying slots of progressively-increasing diameter spaced successively along one of the walls of the trackway for receiving therethrough only units of identical diameter movedalong the trackway and a plurality of sub-hoppers each being disposed beneath one of the classifying slots for the reception therein of the segregated units of a certain diameter and for the discharge thereof through a drop slot communicating therewith, the improvement of a coin controlled subcombination comprising, a funnel-shaped discharge means connected with each sub-hopper drop slot for guiding the units dropped from the respective sub-hopper, a switch having a biased feeler disposed in each sub-hopper drop slot and responsive to the dropping of a unit therethrough, a counting means disposed below each sub-hopper and pulsated by the movement of the respective said switch for counting the segregated units discharged from the respective sub-hopper, a shaft carried by each said counting means and rotated upon each pulsation thereof, a pinion fixed to each said shaft and being advanceable accordingly upon energization of said counting means, a stud-carrying idle gear disposed adjacent each said counting means and being meshable with the respective said pinion with the stud being movable through a predetermined distance upon each pulsation of said counting means, an adjustable stop rod actuatable by the stud of said idle gear through a stroke of a predetermined distance upon rotation of said idle gear for etfectuating preclusion of a continued discharge of units from the respective sub-hopper respective to the completion of the counting of a prescribed number of coins by the respective of said counting means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Rees Nov. 15, Prockl Jan. 27, Reeling May 17, Modlin June 14, Sherman Nov. 21, Whitacre Nov. 9, Kohlmann Mar. 7, Fleming July 7, Miconi Nov. 8, Seckula Apr. 21,

FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain of Great Britain of Italy May 15, France Jan. 4, 

